Precast rain-screen wall

ABSTRACT

A precast concrete wall panel of rain-screening quality, comprising a rigid sheet of insulating material and a concrete facing bonded to a screen which is spaced from the insulation sheet. The screen comprises a grid of intersecting strands and a web of flexible material interengaging the strands. The screen may be fixed through the insulation sheet to studs and is preferably spaced from the sheet by vertical reinforcing rods.

United States Patent [191 Elliott 1 Feb. 25, 1975 [54] PRECAST RAIN-SCREEN WALL 2,542,698 2/13119 lachman 52/676 6 Y 2, 4 ,180 51 4- l 52 281 [751 lnvem Gmdo Rexdale 3,435,580 4i1969 m eiiill et a1. 52/599 Canada 3,466,825 9/1969 Guddal 52/408 Assigneaz Gazelle Sy Ltd, Weston Krumwelde Ontario, Canada Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser [22] Filed 1973 Assistant Examiner-James L. Ridgill, Jr. [21] App]. No.: 325,935

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 52/347, 52/452 A recast concrete wall and of raimscreenin 511 Int. Cl E04b 2/28, E04b 2/14 it risin a rigid shget insulating mategafand [58] Field Of- Search 52/347, 600, 452, 676, z fafin bonded to men which is Spaced from the insulation sheet. The screen comprises a grid of intersecting strands and a web of flexible material [56] References Clted interengaging the strands. The screen may be fixed UNITED STATES PATENTS through the insulation sheet to studs and is preferably 896,326 8/1908 Roberts 52/600 spaced from the sheet by vertical reinforcing rods. 1,649,872 11/1927 Swisher 52/600 1,744,354 l/l930 Beaty 52/452 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 20 I12CI l i i 1 M 12 5 O S 2 1 z ,I\ ii i fi i f I saw "h W 0 qr) I 1 L 2 i O r 44 t g I /1 l i r 1 i I Q J S 4 4% W I I Li 1' i i K, I

Y 1 I PRECAST RAIN-SCREEN WALL This invention relates to prefabricated wall construction and more particularly to precast concrete walls.

Rain penetration of walls is a common building problem, causing stains, mechanical strains from freezing,

and other forms of deterioration. These disadvantages may be overcome by providing a rain screen in the form of an air chamber between the inner and outer walls of the building. i

It is an object of the present invention to provide a precast concrete wall construction of rain-screening quality.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a precast concrete wall section according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

The embodiment shown in the drawings consists of a panel having a plurality of studs 12 carrying an insulating sheet 14. A screen 16 of specific construction is fixed to studs 12 and against sheet 14. A concrete facing 18 is bonded to screen 16, leaving an air space 20 between the screen and insulating sheet 14.

Studs 12 are preferably channel-shaped in crosssection and arranged vertically in parallel, spaced relationship across panel 10, each end stud 12a having a.

flange laterally extending from the base of the stud to form a side abutment 22.

Insulating sheet 14, bearing against studs 12, is preferably of urethane and carries two layers of aluminum foil 24 on its outer surface.

Screen 16 comprises an open weave wire grid 26. Horizontal strands 28 of grid 26 have vertical rows of crimps 30, each row of crimps having a vertically oriented reinforcing rod 32 fixed to it, preferably by welding. Vertical and horizontal strips of sheet material such as paper are interwoven in grid 26 to form a web 36. Screen 16 is attached to channels 12 by bolts 38 each having a washer 40 engaging grid 26 and a threaded free end 42 engaging a stud 12. Bolt 38 passes through insulating sheet 14 and rods 32 which are vertically oriented laterally spaced means fixed to the screen 16 to bear against foil 24 to secure screen l6 firmly against the insulating sheet and to secure the lat-. ter firmly against studs 12.

T2 16 are fixed to studs 12 by bolts 38 and that unit is placed in a horizontal position (the panel may be wholly fabricated in that position). Concrete is then spread over screen 16 to the desired depth, flowing around the strands of grid 26 and being restrained by web 36 from flowing onto insulatng sheet 12. The concrete is allowed to set to form facing 18 which is bonded to the grid and defines, with insulating sheet 12, space 20.

I claim: l. A precast concrete wall panelcomprising:

a panel having a plurality of spaced end studs and a v rigid sheet of insulating material fixed to the studs; a rigid screen located on that side of the sheet of insulating material opposite the studs, said screen comprising a grid of intersecting strands, a web of flexible material interengaging the strands, vertically oriented laterally spaced means fixed to the screen and bearing against the sheet of insulating material whereby the screen is spaced from the sheet of insulating material and parallel thereto and providing an air space between the grid and the rigid sheet of insulating material, and means fixing the screen to the sheet of insulating material, and to the studs 'and a concrete facing overlying the screen remote from the sheet of insulating material and bonded to the grid of intersecting strands.

2. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which said vertically oriented laterally spaced means comprise a plurality of reinforcing rods fixed to the grid and bearing against the sheet of insulating material.

3. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the web of flexible material comprises strips of said material interwoven with the strands of said grid.

4. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which two of the studs are positioned one adjacent each side edge of the sheet of insulating material, said two studs each having a flange extending therefrom to abut the side edges of the sheet of insulating material, the screen,

and the concrete facing.

5. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid sheet of insulating material is of urethane and carries an aluminum foil covering on that side having the screen.

6. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixing means comprises a threaded bolt having its head embedded in the concrete facing.

7. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the horizontal strands of the grid are crimped in spaced vertical rows, a said plurality of reinforcing rods being fixed to the crimp on the grid on said rows and bearing against the sheet of insulating material. 

1. A precast concrete wall panel comprising: a panel having a plurality of spaced end studs and a rigid sheet of insulating material fixed to the studs; a rigid screen located on that side of the sheet of insulating material opposite the studs, said screen comprising a grid of intersecting strands, a web of flexible material interengaging the strands, vertically oriented laterally spaced means fixed to the screen and bearing against the sheet of insulating material whereby the screen is spaced from the sheet of insulating material and parallel thereto and providing an air space between the grid and the rigid sheet of insulating material, and means fixing the screen to the sheet of insulating material, and to the studs and a concrete facing overlying the screen remote from the sheet of insulating material and bonded to the grid of intersecting strands.
 2. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which said vertically oriented laterally spaced means comprise a plurality of reinforcing rods fixed to the grid and bearing against the sheet of insulating material.
 3. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the web of flexible material comprises strips of said material interwoven with the strands of said grid.
 4. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which two of the studs are positioned one adjacent each side edge of the sheet of insulating material, said two studs each having a flange extending therefrom to abut the side edges of the sheet of insulating material, the screen, and the concrete facing.
 5. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid sheet of insulating material is of urethane and carries an aluminum foil covering on that side having the screen.
 6. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the fixing means comprises a threaded bolt having its head embedded in the concrete facing.
 7. A wall panel as claimed in claim 1 in which the horizontal strands of the grid are crimped in spaced vertical rows, a said plurality of reinforcing rods being fixed to the crimp on the grid on said rows and bearing against the sheet of insulating material. 